Rebellion: it’s the American way. Don’t like taxes? Rebel. Don’t like religious intolerance? Rebel. Don’t settle for a monarchy; create a new country, thumbing your nose at the world. And therein lies much of our problem. Before I suffered from cancer and lost everything during the housing crash of 2008, I rebelled against working for “the man.” “I’ll never work for anyone ever again,” I used to say (as I was drowning in debt from trying to force my small business into success). After being broke for several years, I learned that working for “the man” wasn’t so bad after all.
Rebellion Defined
Rebellion is defined as ‘opposition to one in authority or dominance.’ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebellion But why rebel or oppose someone unless you believe your way is superior? Rebellion, a trait still prevalent in almost everyone, is rooted in selfishness. We witness it in our infants, partners, siblings, and parents: it’s pervasive. It fractures relationships, families, businesses, and churches. It erodes trust, exacting a heavy toll. Our insurance, tax, and interest rates all soar due to it. It’s a contagion.
Have you ever observed how one act of rebellion can trigger a chain reaction? Whether two individuals rebel in unison or against each other, it often spirals into a widespread outbreak of disorder. ‘You did it to me, so I’ll do it to you.’ Or notice how a fool readily identifies with another fool, and they both recklessly rebel together. Also, note how the rebellious often seek advice from the rebellious. This adds sin to sin.
Double Rebellion
(Isa 30:1-2 [KJV])
“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!”
Adding sin to sin equates to woe or grief. With the rebel, God is grieved, their family is grieved, and, eventually, the rebel will be grieved. Why? Because, as Psalm 1:1 describes, they seek and walk in the counsel of the ungodly, which inevitably leads to death and destruction. Egypt is foolish and rebellious, and seeking advice from a fool is folly. Additionally, they seek cover from God’s enemies, who will eventually turn on them. These two acts of rebellion are the double sin that yields grief. It’s grieving to watch and grieving to experience.
Rebellion of Truth
(Isa 30:9-11 [KJV])
“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside from the path, and cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.”
These rebellious Israelites preferred the world to the law of the Lord. They wanted preachers who preached smooth sayings and lies because they preferred deceit to truth. Can you imagine not wanting to know the truth? Many of us are just like this with our finances or diets. We prefer not to see the state of our debt load, adding debt to debt, pretending to live the American dream. What a nightmare. Many ignore the scale or health symptoms they live with because they don’t want to be inconvenienced by not eating properly or exercising. It is no wonder most Americans are obese.
What is more grievous than rebellious children who will not hear God’s law are prophets who are willing to prophesy deceits. Behind every losing team is a horrible leader. And behind every lukewarm, compromising church is a compromising preacher. These pseudo-prophets are more interested in large numbers and profits than they are in snatching souls from the precipice of the pit (of hell). Shame on the compromising preacher. Shame on the 501C3, country club, “atta-boy,” people pleaser. We need real prophets who have no interest in numbers, money, or fame, but their sole purpose and impetus is to please the Lord and save lost souls.
Rebellion Brings a Breach
(Isa 30:12-14 [KJV])
“Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:
Therefore, this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.”
The sin of forsaking God’s Word, seeking counsel from the ungodly, and trusting in God’s enemies for covering has a payment. The law of sowing and reaping cannot be avoided. When you forsake the Lord for fleshly answers, you end up reaping cracks in your foundation. And if the breaches are not acknowledged, repaired, and maintained, the wall will collapse without further warning. You’ll say, “Wow, I didn’t expect that.” The Lord says, “When you compromise, expect failure.” It will happen when you least expect it.
Jesus said, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” It doesn’t take much yeast to make bread rise. If you take 1/8 of a teaspoon of dog poop and mix into your cookie dough, the entire batch would be contaminated. A little rebellion towards God and His ways contaminates a person’s whole life. The solution is to repent from rebellion. Humble yourself and submit to His Word and His ways. Stop rushing to your own answers and conclusions. God is not in a hurry. He’ll answer and provide when He is ready.
Be like God. Be patient and wait. This requires trust.
Isaiah 26:3-4
“Thou will keep him in person peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”
